The General Aircraft Hamilcar was designed as a heavy-duty glider, but as was the case in Germany with the Me 321 Gigant, the option of making it self-powered was explored. The result was the Mark X, which was fitted with two Bristol Mercury engines. Those were intended to assist in take-off when heavily loaded, but it turned out the Mark X could also take off under its own power with a maximum load of 3.175 metric tons, which seems respectable compared to what, say, a DC-3 could carry.
Only about 20 were made and the end of the war put a stop to further development. But did the Mark X have potential as a low-cost transport plane? Perhaps, say, for hauling vehicles and other bulky cargo to places like remote mining settlements?
Only about 20 were made and the end of the war put a stop to further development. But did the Mark X have potential as a low-cost transport plane? Perhaps, say, for hauling vehicles and other bulky cargo to places like remote mining settlements?